A longtime Prince George doctor will be moving his practice three blocks after he got approval from city council to rezone an empty lot.
Dr. Lawrence Brkich asked council to allow him to build "a mixed use building."
"Tonight's zoning proposal is to rezone two lots and combine them to a single consolidated property that can accommodate a doctor's office and a residence above," said David McWalter at Monday's meeting, speaking on behalf of Brkich.
That request passed unanimously through third reading, which meant the area will be re-designated from Neighbourhood Residential to Neighbourhood Centre Corridor.
One resident showed up to ask council why it would change the rules, and two residents emailed the city to express concern for traffic along 11th Avenue, which "from the Winnipeg access is already congested with vehicles parking on both the left and right side," it said.
City staff said rezoning the lot, which McWalter said has stood empty for 50 years, is a minor amendment, consistent with the city's policy and fits its infill development plans.
"Their goal is to open a new modern office," said McWalter, which is more handicap accessible than the naturopathic physician's Eighth Avenue office where Brkich has worked for 20 years.
The development will consolidate two existing lots into the one new space, said McWalter before he addressed concerns with congestion.
"Patient traffic is typically by appointment only and the traffic volume for patients is extremely light. There are less than 10 patients per day for the practice," said McWalter, adding the office employs three people, including Brkich and his wife.
He said most traffic would enter from the rear lane of the property, which is adjacent to Parkwood Mall.
"It will have absolutely no impact on traffic that exists on 11th Avenue," he said, though the couple's entrance to their driveway would be off of 11th.
Council heard the bike lane along Winnipeg Street shouldn't be impacted, because it is already a no stopping zone.
The building will be designed to appear like a home "so that it blends in," McWalter said, and Brkich has offered to pave the gravel lane bordering the property at no cost to the city.
Coun. Susan Scott said she lived two doors down from a similar type of complex.
"It has been nothing but a positive statement in our corner of that area," said Scott, who was among several councillors who praised the proposal.
"I think it's a great opportunity," said Coun. Murry Krause.
"That weed patch has been there for a long time. It's exciting to hear that we're going to have a development there. It's going to complement the neighbourhood.
"We've been trying to encourage this kind of development for a long time."
